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So far, he added, the modifications have made the experience successful. "Instead of self service, our staff is on hand to plate and serve food, and for a contactless experience throughout the ship, guests can access restaurant and bar menus from their personal mobile device by scanning a QR code," Muskat told USA TODAY in a statement.įurthering the contactless experience, all passengers are being provided with an interactive wristband to make touch-free purchases of food and beverages, including at the buffet. But, like Royal Caribbean, it has modified its buffet to prevent the spread of COVID-19. So when MSC Cruises resumed sailing in Europe in mid-August, it kept its buffet open, serving a range of cuisine options from around the world. While MSC's COVID-19 response has prioritized safety, executive vice president and chief operating officer Ken Muskat also noted, "We worked hard to ensure that we are still able to provide our guests with the cruise vacation and experience that they have come to know and love, including when it comes to the popular cruise buffet."
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"We want to appeal to whatever you want: if you want a formal seating and sit-down dining, we have that. If you want informal and a buffet, we have that." Norwegian: Buffets may return but not immediately "I think what’s special about the cruise is the panoply of choices you have," Fain said.
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"They’re having that (buffet) experience in a very safe environment," Tamis said.īut regardless of the buffet experience, the cruise company believes that what makes cruising so appealing is the amount of dining options onboard. "We’re going to have food and beverage team members at exits and entrances making sure that we don’t exceed that 50%," said Cornelius Gallagher, a Michelin-starred chef and vice president of food and beverage for Celebrity Cruises. It's also going to cap the number of passengers allowed in the dining room itself at one time. They will require masks except while eating, implement social distancing in seating and standing areas, and increase sanitation. Diners are still allowed to return as many times as they like,Īll Royal Caribbean Group lines will also implement changes to their dining rooms. Passengers will walk to the buffet, request the item they want and a server will plate it for them. "Now our crew will do that service piece," Tamis told USA TODAY. Mark Tamis, the senior vice president of hotel operations for Royal Caribbean International, Royal Caribbean Group's flagship line, explained that the buffet will no longer be self-service. "We think we can provide the same experience without the risk of contagion," Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY.
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Royal Caribbean and its sister lines, which include Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and Azamara, plan to offer cruisers a modified buffet.